2025-26 Winter Wednesday 4 – Jackson Park Golf Course
Welcome to the third event in the 2025-26 Winter Wednesday training series on Jackson Park Golf Course in Seattle. Come practice, in particular, compass skills and (for those so inclined) navigating at speed – fairways make for fast running!
We offer an Easier and a Harder course. The Easier course will be suitable for orienteers with less experience navigating at night and can be completed by staying on the golf cart paths. The Harder course will be a significant step up and, given the open (but not-so-flat) nature of the terrain, is designed to encourage direct routes between controls. The Harder course crosses many golf cart paths but rarely follows them. If you want to take an All Controls map and use it as a Score-O (or design-your-own course), that is also a possibility. Please respect all Out-of-Bounds areas.
The restaurant, with a typical pub food menu, will be open until 9 PM for our après O’ dining pleasure.
Please see the Winter Wednesdays series page for more on the goals and philosophy of these events.
Instruction and coaching happily provided on request. Remember to bring a headlamp (or equivalent) and a whistle.
COURSES
Course designer(s): Mike Schuh
Course distances will be provided here once the courses are finalized.
Meanwhile, here are the estimated distances:
ESTIMATED
Easier – 1.3 km, 35m climb
Harder – 3.3 km, 65m climb
Create Your Own Course (Score): as long as you want, just finish by 8:30 PM.
How are courses measured?
Courses are measured as the crow flies, in a direct line from control to control. Unless you have wings, you will travel farther than this distance! Courses are measured in kilometers, so a good rule of thumb is to simply round up to miles to estimate how far you will go. So in a 5 kilometer race, you’ll likely travel up to 5 miles.
COURSE NOTES
The Easier course can be completed by staying on the golf cart paths. Several controls (#2, 7, 11, and 12) offer an opportunity to try short compass runs (the related tactic is aiming off, instruction is available).
The Harder course has several long legs, offering the challenge of maintaining focus while navigating. A couple legs can be completed by following nearby golf cart paths but participants are encouraged to try approaching each control directly (that is, straight on).
There is a small area between controls #2 and 3 on the Harder course that is out of bounds due to maintenance work, trenching in particular. It is marked on the map with purple cross hatching and in the terrain with cones and pin flags.
No snow this year!
SCHEDULE
5:26 pm – Sunset (or there abouts)
5:58 pm – End of civil twilight
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Start window (start when ready, no assigned start times)
8:30 pm – Course closure
Report to Finish by 8:30 pm even if you have to abandon your course.
Why is there a start window?
This event uses an interval start, which means that participants are started in waves instead of all at once.
PRICES
PRE-REGISTRATION PRICES
$12 base price
– subtract $4 for Cascade OC members
Participating as a group? Just $5 for each additional adult (18+) group
member, no cost for additional minors. Max group size is 3 including the group leader.
The Winter Wednesdays events will not use electronic punching.
SIGN UP
Online pre-registration closes: Tuesday, February 10th, at 11:59 PM
Day-of-event registration will not be available.
LOCATION
DIRECTIONS
Street address is 1000 NE 135th St, Seattle. From I-5 head east on NE 145th St (from SR-522 Bothell/Lake City Way head west), turn south on 15th Ave NE, and then at NE 135th St (traffic light) turn west. Parking lot is a fifth of a mile from 15th, on the right.
Due to construction closures of the streets near Roosevelt Way NE and NE 125th St (see SDOT map), the best route from the Northgate area is to head north on Roosevelt Way NE, continue northeast on Pinehurst Way NE, and then north on 15th Ave NE to NE 135th St as above.
For those who like numbers: 47.7281, -122.3166 Or maybe 551240 5286207?
PARKING
The main parking area is behind the multicolored “Jackson Park” sign. The check in desk will be in the Marvelously Magnificent and Most Glorious Event Arena which will be through the gate at the northwest corner of the parking lot and up the hill toward the Pro Shop and cafe.
CARPOOL
Looking for a carpool? Join the club email group and share your request to find a ride.
OTHER METHODS
Metro Transit route 348 is available on 15th Ave. NE, the east side of the park, with stops at NE 135th St. The Shoreline South Link station (and bus stops for the routes that serve it) is just NW of the park; please contact the Meet Director for information on how to get from the station to the Incredibly Illustrious and Welcoming Event Center and Arena by foot or bicycle.
THE MAP
No map preview available
SAFETY & ETIQUETTE
Return to the Finish
All participants MUST return to the finish and download their e-punch or turn in their punch card.
Even if you have not finished your course, you must still return to the the finish and confirm with event staff that you have returned safely.
Out of Bounds
Some areas may be marked out of bounds. It is imperative to respect these boundaries to maintain our relationships with land managers. Participants MUST NOT go out of bounds. Any participant caught going out of bounds will be disqualified.
Course Closure
All participants MUST return to the finish by course closure time. If a participant does not return by course closure, event volunteers will begin coordinating a search party.
If you need a long time on the course, start as early in the start window as possible, wear a watch, and be prepared to cut your course short to make it back by the course closure time.
Whistle
All participants MUST carry a whistle on the course. Complimentary whistles are available at the start tent (please only take one).
If you are injured on the course and need assistance, blow three long blasts to call for help.
If you hear a call for help, abandon your course to find the person in distress.
Voices
Part of the fun and fairness of orienteering is navigating your own course, so please be polite when you find a checkpoint and don’t holler that you’ve found it.
